While head athletic trainer Rick Burkholder denied the Eagles’ quarterback had a setback, he conceded the veteran has issues with eye movement, visual tracking and balance.

Vick’s reaction time didn’t change during three straight failed impact tests, according to Burkholder, who thought the finding so “unusual” he contacted concussion specialists in Pittsburgh.

Vick was prescribed a change in his rehab. Think of an ankle sprain and the re-training process necessary to get that extra step back, Burkholder explained, only on computer-simulated eye tests. That’s what Vick went through this week.

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Burkholder anticipates Vick improving on another impact test Monday. If the player doesn’t get better, Burkholder said he might send Vick to Pittsburgh to meet with the specialists.

All of that said, Burkholder and head coach Andy Reid refuted an ESPN report suggesting Vick feels the Eagles are using politics to delay his rehab from the concussion.

The obvious motive in keeping Vick off the field would be to see more of Nick Foles.

The rookie quarterback makes his third start Sunday night when the Eagles take on Dallas at Cowboys Stadium.

“There’s no conspiracy here,” Burkholder said. “We don’t grade the impact test. He’s got to pass that before we can ever entertain him playing. There’s no conspiracy theory. As the gatekeeper of these guys he’s not going to play until he passes baseline.”

The release of high-priced veteran Jason Babin earlier in the week has made veterans leery of the front office potentially influencing personnel decisions.

The situation escalated to a point where Eagles spokesman Derek Boyko thought it prudent to get a statement from Vick.

“I want to thank my fans for the thousands of well wishes,” the statement read. “I also appreciate the support of the entire Eagles organization. I feel strong and healthy. As a professional athlete I want to play in every game but the NFL has a specific protocol to protect players. My focus is to complete this process successfully, so I can rejoin my team on the field.”

Despite Reid’s insistence he cut Babin to go with youth, the Eagles are saving close to $2 million in payroll going with youth instead of retaining the veteran, who led them in sacks last year and leads them again this season.

Reid bristled at the mention of politics.

“There’s no, there’s nothing to that,” Reid said. “I’ve talked to Michael and Michael is good. I don’t know where things get started but Michael is fine with it. He understands and everything is in the best interests of him right now and making sure that he’s ready to go.

“You have to go through the protocol. There’s no way around that. When you’re talking about a guy that does play the game the way that he does, that’s how it works. He still has to do everything that everybody else does. That’s the way the league set it up.”

Reid also said Vick “was getting better.

“That’s the positive thing. That’s really all I care about.”

Reid also insisted that when Vick was healthy he, and he alone would decide who to play at quarterback. And Vick is his guy.

“Michael is the quarterback of this team,” Reid said. “That’s how I’ve approached it from the get-go. Until I tell you different, that’s how I feel. And Mike knows that.

Center Dallas Clark (ankle) practiced fully Friday for the first time this week and is questionable for the Cowboys along with defensive tackle Fletcher Cox (tailbone, funeral). Cox will join the Eagles in Dallas.

The Eagles hired former Inquirer managing editor and vice president Anne Gordon to their newly created position of Senior Vice President of Media and Communications.

The Eagles’ release stated that Gordon will have “oversight of the organization’s various communications groups including football media services, community relations and all mobile, social media, internet and other new digital media platforms.”

The Cowboys are banged up. They’ll be without the services of cornerback Orlando Scandrick (hand), center Phil Costa (ankle) and defensive end Bass (ankle), all listed out.